Christmas Card Pics

These are some photos a friend of ours (Mallory Krieger) took. I would do that fancy number and underline her name and link her blog/photography website to it, but I'm not that advanced with the internet....her links are to the left under "Our Friends". Anyway....I love, love her photography. These photos were taken at The Shops at Legacy in Plano. I think these pictures capture Abby's personality pretty well. She is always on the go. Unfortunately, these pictures also captured my double chin. Hello?! Where did that come from? Guess I need to practice sticking out my neck in a non-goose way to take pictures. Either that, or stop eating so much Chick-fil-A. Yum!

I love these pictures!

For the two of you (you know who you are) that wait with baited breath for the next Reinhard blog, I apologize for being delinquent in blogging. Seems like the process takes FOREVER! First I have to down-load all the pictures from the camera. Then, delete the 500 pictures that don't look good or are blurry, then flip the pictures so they are all going the right way, then upload, then type something witty- all in the midst of taking care of the family, making baby food, creating something really cute and crafty (I'll be posting my creations soon!), keeping up with Abby, making sure Maddie is not eating anything off the floor - wow! wears me out just thinking about it.

Coming soon.....Christmas blog with pictures!!

Bathtime Fun!

Maddie is 8 1/2 months old. These are some shots of her during bathtime.

It's so much fun to have a child that actually has a little bit of hair to play with. :)

All cleaned up and getting ready for bed.

Miscellaneous Entry

This is a miscellaneous Reinhard update. The first 2 pictures are Maddie practicing being a chef. I think she has natural talent.


This month has not been kind to Reinhard household in terms of sicknesses. Earlier this month Dan and I had strep throat. Thankfully neither of the girls got it. Then, last Saturday evening Abby was attacked by the stomach bug, the next night it progressed to Dan, then finally to me. MISERABLE!!! I mistakenly told Dan that the sickest I'd ever been was when I had strep throat. I had to correct myself. The stomach bug takes the cake. (or gives it back)

We planned to leave on Tuesday for Hondo, TX for Nanna's (Dan's mom, Elaine) wedding. I was still yucky and dehydrated, but sometimes you just have to grab the camera and capture the moment. This is Abby's attempt at being independent on the potty.....
Unfortunately, we did not take many pictures at Elaine and Ray's wedding (aka - Nanna and Pops). Maddie was so sick (see picture below). We are hoping to get pictures from someone else. The ceremony was a beautiful expression of their love for each other and for Christ. We are blessed to have been able to participate in that. We wish Nanna and Pops many years of happiness and joy while serving the Lord. Below is Abby's first meeting of Ray.
Our whole Thanksgiving trip Maddie had fever, runny nose, cough, and some vomitting. She was so pitiful and sad. She would just sit and cry for us. She was okay when she was held, but she definitely wasn't smiling or laughing any - she just wasn't herself - it was so sad. On Saturday we took her to the doctor to find out that she had RSV (some sort of respiratory virus that gives babies asthma like symptoms - wheezing, lots of mucus, labored breathing, etc). The doctor was fearful that she may have had pneumonia since she had a fever. We had a chest X-ray done and they couldn't rule out pneumonia, so Maddie is currently on an antibiotic. We are also doing breathing treatments with her. Below is Maddie having a breathing treatment, which she tolerates pretty well. The mask has stuff on it to make it look like a dinosaur. It's kind of cute. Anyway, she's on the road to Wellville. She's back to her old self - smiling, laughing, trying to crawl. During all of our sicknesses, we have been praying a lot for Christ to heal us. Abby asked me the other day, "Why isn't God making you feel better?" WOW! How to answer that one to a 3 year old? I'm not even sure what I said to her, I was so taken aback. However, I am prepared for that question now (now that she'll probably never ask it again).

"Abby, God listens to us and answers us when we pray. But sometimes it's not what we think should happen. God knows what is best for us and he wants only the best for us. God may not be making me feel better today, but that doesn't mean He won't ever help me feel better. I have to trust that God is doing what He knows is best for me."

Happy Halloween!

We like to do a family Halloween around here....and by family Halloween, I mean that I am the photographer and the rest of the family dresses in theme. In September (yes, I like to start planning that early), our theme was to be "The Farm". Maddie was going to wear Abby's chick costume, Dan was to be a farmer, Abby was to be a cow, Tucker and Duncan were either going to be eggs or cow patties - I hadn't gotten that far. Then, Abby came home with the phrase I had been dreading......"Mommy, I want to be Mary Poppins for Halloween." Blasted!! I'm not sure if you're aware, but Mary Poppins is currently not one of the Disness Princesses - you can't buy anything Mary Poppins. So (good thing I start in September), I realized I would have to make the dress, hat, umbrella, etc..... This is the first thing I've ever sewn from a pattern. (Which is not a Mary Poppins pattern - it's a princess dress pattern with some alterations).

So here they are - my Mary Poppins themed family! For those not familiar with the movie, I'll explain. Dan is Burt, the chimney sweep. Maddie is a penguin from the cartoon part of the movie where they jump through the chalk drawing. Tucker and Duncan are bankers - Jane and Michael's (the children) dad works in the bank.....which is why he doesn't have time for his children, which is why they need a nanny - enter Mary Poppins (but that's beside the point). And Abby, of course, steals the show as Mary Poppins!

(We watch a lot of Mary Poppins, in case you couldn't tell!)


Ladies and Gentlemen, we have lift-off!!

I guess instead of a spoonful of sugar, we'll just have a Twix!

This is the day of Halloween. Abby wore the cheerleading costume Nanna made for her to school. I wasn't about to let Mary Poppins come home with evidence of a 3 year old's Halloween party on it (cheetos, kool-aid, etc.).

Dancing Queen

I guess those dance lessons are paying off! Well.....sort of.

Pumpkin Patch

I love Fall. I'm not sure what it is about it - maybe it's the cooling weather, or the leaves turning colors. Maybe it's just the candy corn and Paula Deen's Gooey Pumpkin Butter Cakes. Whatever it is, this is my favorite time of year. Here are some pictures from our visit to the pumpkin patch.

This is Abby "eating" the gords. She never would smile while standing by the gords, she would only eat them. Interesting.....we don't eat gords at home.